Super Wing Bolt

ABSTRACT

Provided is a super wing nut bolt. The super wing bolt comprises a head, two wings that extend transversely from opposite sides of the head, a polygonal-sided shall that extends downward from the head and a threaded shaft that extends downward from the polygonal sided shaft. The bolt may also include a tightening hole that passes perpendicular through the head between the two wings, a tightening slot in a first top surface of the head,

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation and claims the benefit of thefiling date of an application entitled, “Super Wing Nut” Ser. No.16/406,224, now US. Pat. No. 10,912587, filed May 8, 2019, assigned tothe assignee of the present application, and herein it by reference,

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The claimed subject matter relates generally to novel wing bolts and,more specifically, to a wing bolts that include a head that facilitatesboth loosening and tightening the bolt.

BACKGROUND

External Bone Fixation devices are employed by Orthopedic Health CareProviders to treat hone deformity and acute trauma. Such devices aretypically assembled from components fastened together using, among othercomponents, nuts and bolts. Speed of assembly is often desirable,particularly in the event of trauma, yet the currently available nutsand bolts typically require the use of specific wrenches and other toolsto be install, spin and tighten onto a corresponding bolt or nut,respectively.

External Fixation Devices may include variously configured plates andposts. Plates are fastened together with struts with a threaded portion,the threaded portion secured to plate by a nut. A post may have athreaded hole that enables the post to be attached to a plate or anotherpost with a bolt.

SUMMARY

Provided are super wing bolts that include a novel head that tenable thebolts to be attached for their intended purposes more easily andquickly. As the Inventors herein have realized, External Bone Fixation(EBF) devices would benefit from novel nuts and bolts that weigh lessand are able to be assembled more quickly with a fewer number and widervariety of tools than typical nuts and bolts. In other words, there is aneed for nuts and bolts that are lighter, faster and easier to assemble,particularly with respect to EBF devices.

Provided is a fastener for use with a correspondingly threaded boltcomprising a head, two wings that extend transversely from oppositesides of the head, a tightening hole that passes perpendicular throughthe head between the two wings, a tightening slot in a top surface ofthe head, a polygonal sided shaft that extends downward from the headand a threaded hole that passes axially through the shaft.

Also provided is a fastener for use with a correspondingly threaded nutcomprising a head, two wings that extend transversely from oppositesides of the head, a tightening hole that passes perpendicular throughthe head between the two wings, a tightening slot in a top surface ofthe head, a polygonal sided shaft that extends downward from the headand a threaded shaft that extends downward from the polygonal sidedshaft.

Also provided is a two-part fastener with a first part comprising ahead, two wings that extend transversely from opposite sides of thehead, a tightening hole that passes perpendicular through the headbetween the two wings; a tightening slot in a top surface of the bead, apolygonal sided shaft that extends downward from the head, and athreaded shaft that extends downward from the polygonal sided shaft. Thesecond part comprises a bead, two wings that extend transversely fromopposite sides of the head, a tightening hole that passes perpendicularthrough the head between the two wings, a tightening slot in a first topsurface of the head, a polygonal sided shaft that extends downward fromthe head, and a threaded hole that passes axially through the shaft,wherein the threaded shaft of the second part threads through thethreaded hole of the first part.

This summary is not intended as a comprehensive description of theclaimed subject matter but, rather, is intended to provide a briefoverview of some of the functionality associated therewith. Othersystems, methods, functionality, features and advantages of the claimedsubject matter will be or will become apparent to one with skill in theat upon examination of the following figures and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the claimed subject matter can be obtainedwhen the following, detailed description of the disclosed embodiments isconsidered in conjunction with the following figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of super wing nut with a novel head inaccordance with the claimed subject matter.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the super wing nut of FIG. 1, from adifferent perspective, showing features that are obscured in theillustration of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the super wing nut of FIGS. 1 and 2, from athird perspective.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of super wing bolt with a novel head inaccordance with the claimed subject matter.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the super wing bolt of FIG. 4, from adifferent perspective.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the super wing bolt of FIGS. 4 and 5, froma third perspective.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an External Bone Fixation device that hasbeen assembled with the nuts and bolts of FIGS. 1-6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Although described with particular reference to an External BoneFixation device, the claimed subject matter can be implemented in anymechanical application in which ease and speed of assembly is desirable.Those with skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the disclosedembodiments have relevance to a wide variety of situation in addition tothose described below.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of super wing nut 100 constructed inaccordance with the claimed subject matter. A head 102 of nut 100includes two wings 104, each wing including a serrated surface 106 thatare parallel to each other along the sides of head 102. A surf ace 101is referred to as the “top” of super wing nut 100 and head 102. Althoughnot visible in FIG. 1, the side of each wing 104 opposite serratedsurfaces 106 also has a serrated surface. Wings 104 provide a firstmeans to either loosen or tighten wing nut 100 by enabling wing nut 100to be rotated, typically with a user's fingers but also with a wrench ifnecessary. A tightening hole 108 runs through head 102 perpendicular toserrated surfaces 106 of wing nut 190. Tightening hole 108 serves two(2) purposes, the first is to lighten the weight of wing nut 100 and thesecond to provide a second means to either loosen or tighten wing nut100 by inserting a rod knot shown) or other implement into hole 108 androtating head 102 of wing nut 100. A tightening slot 110 is positionedon the top of head 102 and also serves two (2) purposes, the first tolighten the weight of wing nut 100 and the second is to provide a thirdmeans to either loosen or tighten wing nut 100. for example by using ascrewdriver (not shown) or other implement inserted into tightening slot110.

A lower portion of wing nut 100 includes a polygonal sided shaft, whichin this illustration is six-sided, or hex-sided, shall 112 that providesa fourth means to loosen or tighten wing nut 100 by using anappropriately sized wrench (not shown). Running axially through thecenter of the length of shaft 112 is a threaded hole 114 into which amatching bolt would be threaded. Either a typical bolt or a super bolt200 (see FIGS. 4-6) may be used. Typically, the diameter of threadedhole 114 would he less than the diameter of both tightening hole 108 andtightening slot 110 so that a bolt threaded through threaded hole 114 ofwing nut 100 would he able to extend through and out the top of bead 102if necessary.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the super wing nut 100 of FIG. 1, from adifferent perspective, showing additional features that are obscured inthe illustration of FIG. 1. Head 192, wings 104, serrated surfaces 106,tightening hole 108, hex-sided shaft 112, and threaded hole 114, allintroduced above in conjunction with FIG. 1, are shown. In addition, ananti-slip surface 116 is shown on the bottom of hex-sided shaft 112.Anti-slip surface 116 prevents wing nut 100 from loosening once wing nut100 is tightened to a bolt or strut (see 310, FIG. 7). Typically,anti-slip surface would abut whatever component (see 302, 304, 306 and308, FIG. 7) to which the strut or bolt are attached.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the super wing nut 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2,from a third, or side, perspective. Visible in FIG. 3 are top 101, wing104, serrated surface 106 and hex-sided shaft 112 introduced above inconjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2. The portion of super wing nut 100referred to as head 102 is also illustrated. Also visible, is anti-slipsurface 116, which was introduced above in conjunction with FIG. 2. FIG.3 shows wing nut 100 with a width of ten millimeters (10 mm.), whichwould he a typical size when wing nut 100 is employed in conjunctionwith and external bone fixation device (see 300, FIG. 7). in this sizewing nut 109, threaded hole 114 (FIGS. 1 and 2), which is not visible inFIG. 3, would typically be six millimeters (6 mm.). It should beunderstood that the illustrated sizes are only examples and thedisclosed technology may he employed with wing nuts 100 of any size,both larger and smaller. In this embodiment, hex-sided shaft 112 has thesame width as head 102 and two sides of shaft 112 are parallel to wings104, which enables a single sized wrench to be used on either component194 or 112 to loosen or tighten wing nut 100. In this example, the widthof both wings 104 and shaft 112 axe ten-millimeter (10 mm.) and aten-millimeter wrench (not shown) could be employed to either tighten orloosen wing nut 100 by applying the wrench to either wings 104 or shaft112.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of super wing bolt 200 with a novel head inaccordance with the claimed subject matter. A head 202 of bolt 200includes two wings 204, each wing including a serrated surface 206 thatare parallel to each other along the sides of head 202. A surface 201 isreferred to as the “top” of super wing bolt 200 and head 202. Althoughnot visible in. FIG. 4, the side of each wing 204 opposite serratedsurfaces 206 also has a serrated surface. Wings 204 provide a firstmeans to either loosen or tighten wing bolt 200 by enabling wing bolt200 to be rotated, typically with a user's fingers but also with awrench if necessary. A tightening hole 208 runs through head 202perpendicular to serrated surfaces 206 of wing bolt 200. Tightening hole208 serves two (2) purposes, the first is to lighten the weight of wingbolt 200 and the second to provide a second means to either loosen ortighten wing bolt 200 by inserting a rod (not shown) or other implementinto hole 208 and rotating head 202 and wing bolt 200. A tightening slot210 is positioned on the top of head 202 and also serves two (2)purposes, the first to lighten the weight of wing bolt 200 and thesecond is to provide a third means to either loosen or tighten wing bolt200, for example by using a screwdriver (not shown) or other implementinserted into tightening slot 210.

A lower portion of wing bolt 200 includes a polygonal-sided shall 212,which in this illustration is six-sided, or hex-sided, that provides afourth means to loosen or tighten wing bolt 200 by using anappropriately sized wrench (not shown). Extending from the bottom ofshaft 212 is a threaded shall 214 onto which a matching nut would bethreaded. Either a typical nut or super nut 100 (FIGS. 1-3) may be used.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the super wing bolt 200 of FIG. 4, from adifferent perspective. Head 202, wings 204, serrated surfaces 206,tightening hole 208, hex-sided shaft 212, and threaded shaft 214, allintroduced above in conjunction with FIG. 4, are shown. Although ananti-slip surface such anti-slip surface 116 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is notshown on the bottom of hex-sided shaft 212 another embodiment may havesuch a surface.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the super wing bolt 200 of FIGS. 4 and 5,from a third perspective. Visible in FIG. 6 are top 201, wing 204,serrated surface 206, hex-sided shaft 212 and threaded shaft 214, allintroduced above in conjunction with FIGS. 4 and 5. The portion of superwing bolt 200 referred to as head 202 is also illustrated. FIG. 6 showswing bolt 200 with a width of ten millimeters (10 mm.), which would be atypical size when wing bolt 200 is employed in conjunction with andexternal bone fixation device (see 300, FIG. 7). In this size wing bolt200. threaded shaft 214 (FIGS. 4 and 5), would he six millimeters (6mm.). It should be understood that the illustrated sizes are onlyexamples and the disclosed technology may be employed with wing bolts200 of any size, both larger and smaller. In this embodiment, hex-sidedshaft 212 has the same width as head 202 and two sides of shaft 212 areparallel to wings 204, which enables a single sized wrench to be used oneither component 204 or 212 to loosen or tighten wing bolt 200. In thisexample, the width of both wings 204 and shaft 212 are ten-millimeter(10 mm.) and a ten-millimeter wrench (not shown) could be employed toeither tighten or loosen wing bolt 200 by applying the wrench to eitherwings 204 or shaft 212.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an. External Bone Fixation (EBF) device 300that has been assembled with the wing nuts 100 (EEGs. 1-3) and wingbolts 200 (FIGS. 1-6). EBF device 300 includes a C-shaped Plate 302, two(2) I-shaped Plate 304, only one of which is labeled, posts 306 and abridge 308. It should he understood that EBF device 300 is only onesimple example and that a typical EBF device may include both additionalcomponents like those illustrated and addition types of components.C-shaped plate 302 is attached to I-shaped plates 304 by means of four(4) adjustable struts 310, only three (3) of which are labeled. Althoughnot visible, adjustable struts 310 have a threaded shaft at each endthat pass through holes in either C-shaped plate 302 or I-shaped plate304. Super wing nuts 100 are threaded onto these shafts to secureadjustable struts 302 to their respective components 302 or 304. In thisfigure, only two wing nuts 100 are labeled, both of which are attachingadjustable struts 310 to C-shaped plate 302.

Although not visible, posts 306 have threaded holes that enable posts306 to be affixed to I-shaped plates 304 by means of wing bolt 2041,only one of which is labelled, by passing threaded shaft 214 through ahole in plates 304 into the threaded hole and tightening. In a similarfashion, threaded holes, which are not visible, at each end of bridge308 enable bridge 308 to be affixed to posts 306 by passing threadedshaft 214 through a hole in post 306 and threading and tightening wingbolt 209.

While the claimed subject matter has been shown and described withreference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in formand detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the claimed subject matter, including but not limited toadditional, less or modified elements.

We claim:
 1. A fastener, comprising: a head; two wings that extendtransversely from opposite sides of the head; a polygonal-sided shaftthat extends orthogonally downward from the head; and a threaded shaftthat extends downward from the polygonal sided shaft.
 2. The fastener ofclaim 1, further comprising a tightening hole that passes perpendicularthrough the head between the two wings, orthogonally to the threadedshaft;
 3. The fastener of claims 1, further comprising a tightening slotin a top surface of the head.
 4. The fastener of claim 1, furthercomprising serrated surfaces on the two wings.
 5. The fastener of claim1, further comprising an anti-slip surface on the bottom of thepolygonal-sided shaft.
 6. The fastener of claim 1, wherein thepolygonal-sided shaft is six sided.
 7. The fastener of claim 1, whereinthe polygonal-sided shaft is four sided.
 8. The fastener of claim 1,wherein the width of the polygonal-shaft is equal to the width of thepair of wings and two sides of the polygonal-sided shaft are parallel tothe pair of wings.